Empowering Young Leaders

Reginald Lorjuste

The Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Its origins stretches to ancient Greece, when a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, and it has since been part of the modern Olympic Games. We have all seen either on the news or in person the passing of the Olympic torch from one relay runner to the next, until the torch reaches its final destination at the next Olympic site. The "passing of the torch" is a great illustration of how we should conduct our spiritual lives.

The torch represents the Word of God. There must be an everlasting fire passed from one generation to the next. Parents must pass the torch to their children. And children must look back and pass the torch to those under them. The book of Matthew 28:16-20 calls for us to fulfill the Great Commission and we know that God's Word is everlasting. The Word of God should never fizzle but must remain burning within our soul. It's not enough for our young people to have parents that are saved but they must wrap their own hand around the torch and begin to run with excitement.

More than ever, it is important for us to begin to develop young leaders in our congregations by creating more Young Ministers Seminars, lessons on how to teach Bible Studies, Evangelistic strategies, and allow them to realize their identity in the kingdom of God. It is our responsibility to train and equip the next generation. God has not designed faith to be something that can be passed along genetically, it must be done though proper training. If we do not actively pass along the faith, the flame will die. If the world can see the value of an everlasting fire, how much more important is it for Christians to live it.